Supported by: Government of Indonesia (GoI) and Islamic Development Bank (idb)

 
• Learn students’ names. This is very important. It can help you maintain discipline and make students 
feel you have made the effort to get to know them. If you don’t seem to know who they are, this can 
make them feel you undervalue them as individuals. 
 
• Use active learning techniques. Use relevant, interesting topics and assignments that fit the interests 
of your class learning styles of the students. These techniques tend to minimize the classroom 
management problems that often bother teachers who rely too heavily on lecturing the learners. If 
students are interested and feel that you have made the effort to find topics that interest them-they are 
less likely to be bored and misbehave. 
 
• Connect on a personal level. Whether the problem of students are aggressive or introverted, make a 
point of getting to know them. It’s unlikely that students will continue to give you a hard time or 
remain distant if you’ve taken an interest in them. Personally greet students each day. 
 
• Use more positives. “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” Establish a positive classroom 
environment by increasing the amount of positive statements you make in class. Use positive 
reinforcement through incentives and rewards appropriate to the developmental level of students 
including stickers, tokens, displaying work or publishing work in a school magazine, noted from the 
teacher commenting on good work, a message sent to parents commending the student. Social rewards 
are often the most effective-smiles, nods and verbal praise.  
 
• Signal nonverbally. Make eye contact with students or move closer to them when they hold private 
conversations, start to fall asleep, or hide from participation. Regularly scan the class and press your 
fingers together (modestly) to signal wordy student to finish what they are saying. Raise your hand to 
get students’ attention. Teach students the behavioral expectations of your signals and practice using 
them until they become routine.